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on MENA - Middle East and North Africa |
| By: | Allen, Robert |
| Abstract: | The paper uses basic theories of Marx on social structure and Malthus on demography to explain many features of Arabia in terms of the arid environment. The focus is on traditional Arabia, but it is argued that the same consideration continue to apply to modern Arabia. Beginning with the desert, it is argued that the only viable economic activity in ‘traditional’ Arabia was herding, and the only feasible system of property was communal ownership. Malthusian demography implies that the population expanded until the average product of labour equaled subsistence. Since labour was at subsistence and land had no value, neither could provide a tax base for a state. Hence, the social system was tribal–tribes had no budgets. There were two exceptions: International trade could be taxed, as in Yemen. Oasis land could also be taxed. Water meant that the average product of labour exceeded the marginal, which equaled subsistence. The difference was a taxable surplus. Some Bedouin tribes claimed ownership of oases and the implications are analyzed. The Saudi states that emerged beginning in the eighteenth century were Bedouin sheikhdoms writ large. Their finance came from oases like al-Hasa and al-Qatif near the Gulf Coast. With Shiite populations, Wahabism proved a useful ideology to justify their plundering by Sunni tribes from the interior. The finances of the Gulf Sheikhdoms are also analyzed as are the finances and investment strategies of the rulers of Oman as well as the role of slavery. Oman is a good example of a hydraulic civilization. Oil replaces water in modern Arabia, and guest workers replace slaves, but the system continues much as before since it continues to meet many needs. Wahabism continues its useful ideological role since the oil fields happen to be adjacent to the al-Hasa oasis. |
| JEL: | N35 N55 P48 Q15 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:20279 |
| By: | Aksoy, Cevat Giray; Khanna, Gaurav; Marino, Victoria; Tumen, Semih |
| Abstract: | We study the education gap between Syrian refugee children and their Turkish peers using administrative data from Türkiye (2011–2018). Our analysis reveals significant disparities: refugee students score 8 points lower in math and 13 points lower in Turkish language, on average. These gaps narrow with time and grade progression, with the most improvement seen in the first two years after arrival. Female refugees adapt more effectively, closing the gap faster than males. Our findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as early language training and support programs, to improve refugee integration and promote equitable educational outcomes. |
| JEL: | J15 I21 I25 F51 |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:19914 |
| By: | Aksoy, Cevat Giray; Bloom, Nicholas; Davis, Steven; Marino, Victoria; Özgüzel, Cem |
| Abstract: | We study the shift to fully remote work at a large call center in Turkey, highlighting three findings. First, fully remote work increased the share of women—including married women—as well as rural and smaller-town residents. By accessing groups with traditionally lower labor-force participation, the firm was able to increase its share of graduate employees by 14% without raising wages. Second, workforce productivity rose by 10%, reflecting shorter call durations for remote employees. This was facilitated by a quieter home working environment that avoided the background noise present in the office. Third, fully remote employees who received initial in-person training exhibited higher long-run productivity and lower attrition rates. This underscores the advantages of in-person onboarding for fully remote workers. |
| Keywords: | Work from home; Remote work; Workforce; Productivity |
| JEL: | J2 J3 R1 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:20262 |
| By: | Hartnett, Allison; Saleh, Mohamed |
| Abstract: | Social conflict theory holds that first wave industrializing autocracies democratized when an incumbent rural elite was challenged by an urban bourgeoisie. We argue that a capitalist rural middle class (RMC) in agrarian autocracies could also push for partial democratization to level the economic field with the incumbent elite, when power shifts in the RMC's favor. We test this argument in precolonial Egypt from 1866 to 1882, using the universe of speeches of members of parliament (MPs). We find that after Egypt's 1876 default that arguably weakened the landed elite, MP pro-democratic reform speeches increased substantially. This increase was greater among RMC MPs from cotton-producing constituencies, due to the higher elite conflict over labor in these areas. After 1876, these MPs also pushed for capitalist reforms to mitigate landed elite expropriation. Our study challenges the notion that agrarian economies were predisposed to autocracy in the first wave of democratization. |
| Keywords: | Democracy; capitalist agriculture; Social conflict; Elites; Legislatures |
| JEL: | P16 D72 N45 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:20260 |